Meet the Maker: Daisy Andrews, Founder of Autumn's Corner
Meet the Maker: Daisy Andrews, Founder of Autumn's Corner
The story behind the handcrafted wooden bookshelves made in Wales — and the idea that children's spaces deserve to be just as considered as the rest of the home.
Daisy, can you tell us the story behind Autumn's Corner and what inspired you to start designing handmade wooden furniture for children's rooms?
Autumn's Corner started from a simple idea: children's spaces should feel just as considered and beautifully designed as the rest of the home.
When I began looking for furniture for my own children's rooms, I noticed a real gap between practical pieces and well-designed ones. Many products felt overly plastic or temporary, while the rest of the home might be filled with carefully chosen furniture and natural materials.
I wanted to create something different — furniture that truly belonged in the home, not just the nursery.
So I started designing simple, timeless wooden pieces that could support children's independence while fitting beautifully into modern family interiors. Today everything is still made in our Welsh workshop using sustainably sourced wood, and every piece is designed with that same original idea in mind: thoughtful furniture for homes where childhood and design sit comfortably side by side.
What makes Autumn's Corner's wooden bookshelves different from standard children's furniture?
For me, the difference comes down to intention.
Most children's furniture is designed purely around function or novelty, whereas our pieces start with the idea that they should be proper furniture first. That means clean proportions, solid materials, and craftsmanship that allows a piece to live comfortably within the home for years. We use sustainably sourced hardwoods and traditional joinery, which gives each shelf a sense of permanence and quality you don't always find in mass-produced pieces.
But practicality is still essential. Every shelf is designed to work beautifully for families — encouraging children to reach their own books, keep spaces organised, and interact with their environment in a natural way. It's about finding that balance between beautiful design and everyday usefulness.
→ Browse our children's bookshelves
How does the design of Autumn's Corner furniture support independence and accessibility for young children?
One of the core ideas behind Montessori design is that children should be able to interact with their environment independently.
Our shelves use a front-facing book display, which allows children to see their books clearly rather than just the spines. That small design decision makes a huge difference — children can recognise their favourite stories and choose them themselves. The shelves can also be mounted low enough for little hands to reach comfortably, which encourages children to take books down, explore them, and return them afterwards.
It's a gentle way of giving children ownership of their space, and I love seeing how naturally they engage with that.
Why do you think front-facing book display shelves are so important for encouraging reading and creativity?
Children are naturally drawn to things they can easily see and choose for themselves.
When books are displayed openly, they become part of the room rather than something tucked away. A small collection of stories within reach invites children to pick them up, revisit favourites, and discover new ones throughout the day. That sense of access makes reading feel like a normal part of play and exploration, rather than something reserved only for bedtime.
Over time, those small everyday moments — choosing a book, sitting with a story, turning the pages independently — are what help build a lasting love of reading and imagination.
What should parents look for when choosing furniture for nurseries, bedrooms, and playrooms?
First and foremost, look for quality materials and solid construction. Children's furniture experiences a lot of daily use, so it needs to be strong enough to last beyond the early years. Solid wood and well-considered joinery will always outperform flat-pack pieces over time.
Safety is also essential — rounded edges, stable fixing systems, and thoughtful proportions all make a difference.
And finally, consider functionality. The best pieces work quietly in the background, supporting everyday routines without feeling complicated or temporary.
Why is natural wood such a great choice for children's spaces?
Natural wood is a wonderful material for children's spaces. It brings warmth and texture into a room while also being incredibly durable. Unlike many synthetic materials, it ages beautifully and often improves with time.
At Autumn's Corner we use sustainably sourced wood and design our pieces to last for many years. The goal is always to create furniture that families keep and use for a long time rather than replace frequently — and that longevity is, in many ways, the most sustainable choice of all.
What does the making process look like, from design to finished product?
Every piece begins with careful design and prototyping in our workshop. From there the shelves are cut, shaped, and assembled by hand. We use traditional joinery techniques alongside modern tools to ensure each piece is both precise and durable. The wood is then carefully finished before the final details are added — such as the hand-painted front bars on some of our designs.
Because everything is made in small batches, we're able to maintain a level of care and attention that simply isn't possible in large-scale manufacturing.
What are your favourite tips for creating calm, clutter-free children's spaces?
One of the simplest approaches is to edit what's on display. Instead of filling shelves with everything at once, rotate books and toys regularly. This keeps the space feeling calm and helps children rediscover items they may have forgotten about.
I also recommend choosing storage that blends naturally with the rest of the home — neutral materials like wood tend to create a more cohesive, calming environment. And keeping storage accessible to children encourages them to take part in tidying up themselves.
How can parents style their children's bookshelves to feel both playful and aesthetically pleasing?
I always suggest thinking about a children's shelf almost like a small design moment within the room. A few favourite books displayed front-facing can create colour and personality, while leaving some breathing space around them keeps the shelf feeling balanced.
Mixing books with a small framed illustration, a soft toy, or a decorative object adds interest without making the space feel cluttered. The key is to keep things simple and intentional.
What trends are you seeing in children's room design right now?
Many families are moving away from overly themed nurseries and towards spaces that feel more connected to the rest of the home. There's a strong shift toward natural materials, softer colour palettes, and furniture that can grow with the child.
Parents are increasingly choosing fewer, better pieces rather than filling a room with lots of short-term items. I think that reflects a wider appreciation for thoughtful design and long-lasting materials.
For parents creating a reading corner at home, where would you suggest they start?
A front-facing bookshelf is always the best starting point. It creates a natural place for books and instantly encourages children to interact with them.
Paired with a soft rug or a comfortable chair, it can quickly become a reading corner that children return to again and again. Adding a simple wall detail above the shelf — such as our Storytime sign or one of our bookish prints in a wooden frame — helps create a gentle focal point that signals the space is for stories and quiet moments. Sometimes the smallest design choices have the biggest impact on how a space is used.
→ Shop The Story Shelf · Shop The Bookshelf Classic
What's been the most rewarding part of building Autumn's Corner?
One of the most rewarding parts has been seeing our pieces become part of family homes. When parents send photos of their children choosing books from the shelves or using them every day, it's incredibly special. Those moments remind me that thoughtful design can genuinely shape how children interact with their environment.
What advice would you give to parents who want to invest in furniture that can grow with their children?
Look for pieces that feel timeless rather than temporary. Natural materials, simple forms, and solid construction tend to age well and adapt easily as children grow.
If a piece feels like something that could sit comfortably anywhere in your home — not just in a nursery — it will likely last far longer than furniture designed purely for a short stage of childhood.
Finally, what can we expect from Autumn's Corner in the future?
We're continuing to refine and develop our core pieces, always looking for small ways to improve proportions, details, and craftsmanship. Alongside that, we're gradually rounding out the collection with a few complementary pieces designed to sit naturally alongside our shelves — helping families create calm, considered spaces for reading, creativity, and everyday life.
The goal is always to evolve thoughtfully, while staying true to the principles that define Autumn's Corner: beautiful materials, timeless design, and furniture made to support everyday family life.